Riftan's expression suggested that Maxi had just uttered a ridiculous statement.
She lowered her eyes.
Riftan reached out to lift her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
He stared at her for a moment, then, seeing the discontent on her face, he let out an incredulous laugh.
"So that's what you really think.
What have I done to deserve such reproach?
When have I ever neglected you?"
“Y-You have been nothing but distant… since the start of the war.”
Although it wasn't his intention, the words gushed out.
Her face burning, she stammered, “And even though the war is finally over… we barely have time to talk… and I barely see you.”
“So, instead of the husband you barely see, you’ve been flirting with another man?” Riftan mocked.
Furious, Maxi glared at him.
"W-Watch your tongue!
You dare accuse me of flirting?
D-Didn't you spend the day with Princess Agnes too?"
"That woman is my superior!
I was doing my duty as her main aide!"
“And Sir Kuahel was escorting the mages!” Maxi frowned, genuinely perplexed.
"What ridiculous suspicions are you harboring?
He is a clergyman!"
“Countless bastards have been sired by clerics,” spat Riftan stiffly.
Maxi's face hardened.
“Are you… honestly questioning my allegiance?”
His icy gaze seemed to erase the cynical smile on his lips.
He brushed his hair back and said tentatively, "I didn't mean to.
I just… I can't bear to see you with another man."
Although these words would normally soften her heart, his absurd accusation had hurt her greatly.
She found it impossible to speak without resentment.
"H-He's not an ordinary man!
And he's never shown interest in me." Staring at him reproachfully, he added, “How can you have such sordid suspicions?”
“Maybe because I was born from a sordid affair,” he said defensively.
"I apologize if I offended your feelings.
Clearly, seeing you two whispering to each other left an impression on me, as my mind was filled with all sorts of obscenities when I heard you were with him all day."
Initially, Maxi couldn't understand what he meant, but her face flushed when she realized he was referring to the time he caught her spying on him and Princess Agnes.
The truth was, she had no right to criticize him.
His voice grew quieter as he murmured, "A-As I made clear at that time… we were… just discussing something in private.
I did nothing… to embarrass myself."
Of course she knew her actions had been shameful.
His clumsy response must have increased Riftan's suspicions; his eyes narrowed again.
“What could you two have to discuss?”
“I-I have to keep this private.”
Riftan's brow furrowed at his weak attempt at evasion.
He smiled as his eyes fixed on her face.
"A secret you can't tell your husband?
I feel my sordid imagination running wild again."
Maxi glared at him.
"And you?
What were you discussing with Princess Agnes?
Because if memory serves me correctly...
you were also whispering to each other."
“Why do you keep mentioning that woman?” he hissed through clenched teeth.
"You know very well that there is nothing between me and the princess.
The fact that you feign jealousy to avoid the subject makes me wonder if I really should be suspicious."
“I-I’m not pretending!” Maxi exclaimed in exasperation.
"I'm jealous!
I-I'm also uncomfortable when I see you with other women!"
She suddenly realized that their surroundings had become strangely silent.
Returning to reality, his body was covered in cold sweat.
She turned stiffly to look around.
The commotion around him stopped; soldiers and knights, who had been distributing dinner, now openly watched her.
Maxi's face flushed.
She pulled her hood down even further, wishing she could hide in a hole.
Why were they having this silly argument?
It had only been a few moments since she had run up to him full of joy at seeing him.
“R-Riftan… you idiot,” she said through gritted teeth.
Before he could say anything else, she fled to the wizards' tent.The next day, Maxi avoided the eyes of the other wizards, who whispered among themselves as she made her way to the back of the castle.
There, she also ignored Kuahel Leon, who seemed to have a million things to say to her, and Ulyseon, whose worried gaze followed her as she passed by.
Instead, she focused on dispelling the castle's fortification magic.
If anyone teased her about last night's argument right now, she was sure she would die of embarrassment.
She banged her forehead against the cold stone wall every now and then as she worked, letting out tormented moans.
Desperate prayer seemed to be their only option against some evil bard, turning their marital quarrel into a song that would spread across the continent.
She shuddered at the horrible thought.
As if finding his misery pathetic, Kuahel said coldly, "We have no time for whining.
The task needs to be completed before the end of the day.
If you have room for self-pity, I suggest you use it to nullify one more rune."
“Who are you to command her nobility?” Ulyseon growled.
"She is not your servant.
If you refuse to give her due respect, I challenge you to a duel“"
"I-It's okay, Ulyseon.
I don't mind."
Although his intervention forced the young knight to close his mouth, it did not stop him from looking disapprovingly at the cleric.
Kuahel, on the other hand, paid no attention to Ulyseon and nodded for Maxi to continue working.
With a sigh, Maxi began to walk along the castle wall.
She pushed the humiliating memory of the previous night out of her mind and focused on the task at hand.
She only stopped after a while when she noticed Ruth standing on the path that led to the castle tower.
He was carefully studying a pillar sculpture, recording something on the parchment he held.
After observing him curiously, Maxi approached silently.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
Surprised, Ruth turned his head towards her.
“Oh, it’s you, my lady.” Relaxing, he returned his gaze to the parchment and said monotonously, "I must thank you for last night's lively spectacle.
It would have been another boring night if it weren't for you."
Mortified, Maxi's face turned red.
“Y-You could have stopped us instead of watching!”
“Why on earth would I intervene in such an embarrassing fight?” said Ruth, laughing scornfully.
“Watching from afar was painful enough.”
Maxi's face was the color of plums.
Glaring at him furiously, she quickly changed the subject.
"B-But seriously...
why are you wandering around here?
Shouldn't the White Dragons be patrolling the area around the city today?
W-Why aren't you with them?"
“They are with the princess, so there was no need for me to go too,” he replied calmly.
He paused to study her face.
“But don’t be jealous.”
“I-I’m not jealous!”, Maxi shouted.
Ruth shrugged and continued writing on her parchment.
“What are you investigating?” asked Kuahel Leon, appearing behind Maxi and breaking her furious gaze.
"I'm recording everything I find.
Anything could be a clue to lead us to the dark wizards," Ruth replied.
He then folded the parchment and placed it in his bag.
Maxi sighed inwardly at his suspicious behavior.
It would have been better if he had openly confessed to hiding something.
Hiding her exasperation, she asked, "And?
Did you find out anything?"
"Not yet.
Right now, I'm just recording what I can before they destroy the castle.
I plan to analyze them later."
“Then I suggest you work quickly,” said Kuahel.
“We will destroy everything and leave the city tomorrow.”
Maxi was surprised by his words.
"S-So fast?
I thought… it would take us at least two more days."
“Once the fortification spells are undone, the demolition won’t take long.” The cleric placed his hand on the castle wall.
"We already found cracks in the walls during the morning inspection.
A little impact should be enough to make the castle collapse."
Maxi looked longingly at the expanse of stone, which seemed to touch the sky, but returned to work with Kuahel's encouragement.
Ruth had already disappeared in the meantime.
She decided to ask the sorcerer about what he had discovered in private.Unfortunately, the night came without her finding him again.
Exhausted, Maxi curled up in her sleeping bag.
She briefly considered looking for Riftan, but quickly dismissed the idea, still embarrassed to face him.
She was afraid they would end up arguing again.
A part of her also hoped he would come find her first.
To his disappointment, there was no sign of him even as darkness fell.
She forced those thoughts away and snuggled into her blanket.
The next morning, the soldiers promptly broke camp and loaded the tents onto wagons.
The coalition army then began the march out of the city, with Balto's soldiers leading the front.
Maxi wiped the sleep from his eyes and strapped his luggage to Rem's saddle.
When she was done, she joined the ranks of the Wedonian army as they passed through the city gate.
The snow-covered hill sparkled in the faint light of dawn.
The soldiers had done a thorough job of cleaning up the bodies, as the vast landscape showed no trace of the battle that had occurred just a few days earlier.
Stopping at the gate, she watched the army descend the hill before slowly beginning to descend.
A strange noise echoed when they were a safe distance from the city's perimeter.
A moment later, the imposing castle, which covered a significant portion of the mountain, slowly began to tilt.
Maxi watched as the castle tower collapsed.
When the debris crashed into the walls, the fortress collapsed like a sandcastle.